Delaware Fishing Report



Updated: April 23, 2010

ADVISORY: The black sea bass recreational fishery will reopen in federal waters May 22 after an extended closure in effect since last October. The National Marine Fisheries Service pushed back this year's start date to correspond with recommendations by other fishing councils including the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council. The black sea bass fishery was ordered closed last year by NMFS as an emergency measure for protecting fish stocks, and this year's start date means the mandatory 180-day closure will have been extended by an additional 39 days. No closing date for the black sea bass fishery in 2010 has yet been determined by NMFS.

By Eric Burnley Sr.*

DELAWARE BAY Rockfish have spread out to the northern part of the bay with fish over 20 pounds taken from Reedy Point to Woodland Beach. Some are caught from shore while others come from boats fishing along the channel edges and over reef sites. So far fresh bait such as bunker, herring, clams, eels and bloodworms have taken most of the rock. A few have been caught on bucktails.

Tautog fishing has been steady over rocks and reef sites from Bowers Beach to Lewes. Crabs, clams and Gulp! have produced limit catches (three per person) on days when the wind allows boats to sail. There are only a few weeks left before the tog season closes so now is the time to get out a put a few filets in the freezer.

We continue to receive good reports of big white perch in tidal creeks and along the shore of the Delaware River. Grass shrimp, bloodworms and small minnows on jigs and darts catch most of the perch.

The Delaware River has also seen some impressive catfish catches. Cut bait and bloodworms have done most of the damage.

The Lewes & Rehoboth canal is seeing some improvement in flounder action. Live minnows and Gulp! have been the most productive baits. The flounder are hitting on incoming and outgoing water. An 11-pound flounder was reported caught here during the week.

Flounder were caught from the Cape Henlopen Pier on herring strips fished behind a bucktail. A friend of mine caught a shad from the pier on Friday evening while fishing with a bucktail meant for flounder.

INSHORE OCEAN Tog continue to lead the hit parade in the ocean. Site 10 has been one of several good locations with clam and crab the tops baits. Windy weather over the weekend restricted access to the fishing grounds.

INDIAN RIVER INLET Flounder reports have been mixed. Some report catching several keepers while others report catching nothing or all shorts. We had one report of an 11 pounder caught out of the VFW Slough.

I can’t seem to pinpoint a tide or current direction for optimum action, but rule of thumb would indicate fishing the top of the tide and the first of the outgoing current in the spring. The idea behind this is the sun will warm the water on the flood and the flounder will be more active in the warmer water.

A few rockfish continue to be caught from boats and from the rocks. A white bucktail with a white worm is always a safe bet. Flies fished behind a sinker have accounted for a few fish. Some have fallen to live herring as well.

Harry Aiken called me on Thursday morning to report a fantastic catch of rockfish on Wednesday night. He and another angler found big rockfish to 40 inches in the rip by the Coast Guard Station. The bite began when the current started in and the fishermen quit around 1:00 a.m. when they were just to worn out to catch anymore. He said some of the larger rock pulled the boat back to the entrance to North Shore Marina. All were caught on a white bucktail and white worm.

Most of the tog caught from the rocks have been small. A few keepers were taken on crab baits. We also had the first report of tog from the pier at Massey’s Landing..

SURF The best news from the beach has been the arrival of bluefish in the surf. The first blues of the season were caught on cut bait at Bethany Beach over the weekend. While not a blitz, it is a good sign for things to come.

Rockfish have been scarce, skates and dogs not so much.

FRESHWATER We stopped by the spillway in Laurel last Saturday and it was as full of herring as I have ever seen. Lots of anglers fishing from the shore and from the pier, but the only one we saw catching anything was snagging herring with a treble hook behind a sinker. I keep getting reports of herring at the spillway in Milton, but no reports of anyone catching anything.

Bass fishing remains good with a few citations caught from state millponds. Shiners and various lures have accounted for the bass action.
The Nanticoke River is another good bassin’ location where you are very likely to encounter some big crappie taking your small crankbait. Big pickerel should be available in Broad Creek.

The trout fishing in New Castle County has remained steady with a few big fish mixed in with the standard issue variety. Once opening day is past the shoreline is less crowded and anglers can enjoy the peaceful spring weather while catching a few fish.

*
Eric Burnley Sr. is a native Delawarean who has fished the waters of his home state for more than 60 years. He has been a full-time outdoor writer since 1978, with articles appearing in most national magazines as well as many regional publications. He has authored two books, Surf Fishing The Atlantic Coast and The Ultimate Guide To Catching Striped Bass.